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Alfresco Christmas celebrations were on the cards for Wellingtonians today as the sun shone down on the capital.

By 11am, Oriental Bay was teeming with families and friends taking a Christmas dip and soaking up the sunshine.

Among beach revellers are members of meet up group Adventure Wellington, who are holding an all-day Christmas party on the beach for people without family in Wellington.

Member Simon Carter said they were expecting more than 100 people to head along to the event, where there will be a secret Santa, food, music and games.

Dressed in Santa suits, Mr Carter along with Roy Hoogmoed, Ronel Ellis and Chris Campbell paddled in kayaks and on paddle boards from the lagoon to Oriental Bay, with a Christmas tree attached to a kayak.

They became attractions as beach goers lined up to get their photo taken with the festive Santas.

Australians Chelsea Lewis, 17, Caitlin Lewis, 13, and Lyndell Karo, 11, are spending Christmas in Wellington after visiting family in Matamata and Whangarei.

Chelsea said she did not expected it to be so hot and sunny on Christmas day, and they were loving spending the morning on the beach.

‘‘This sand isn’t as nice as Australia’s though.’’

Eight-year-old Sam Davidson, from Upper Hutt, was at the beach with her parents playing with her Lalaloopsy doll she received from Santa.